The Blasket Centre is a museum dedicated to the history of the Blasket Islands. The museum is located in Dunquin on the Dingle Peninsula, just opposite the famous islands. Fascinating, it presents the history of the archipelago, from its colonization in 1841, to its abandonment by the population in the 1950s, as a result of island living conditions deemed too extreme. (due to a harsh, testing climate and the difficulty of growing crops locally).
A glimpse of life as it was on Great Blasket Island – Photo by the Blasket Centre
If you love history, and want to learn more about Great Blasket Island’s past, then be sure to take a tour here, at the Blasket Centre.
Located in Dunquin, opposite the Blasket Islands themselves, the museum traces the history of this courageous population, who once lived to the rhythm of the ocean, the cold and the wind…
An isolated population, living on the bangs of the Dingle Peninsula, who had to face the daily challenges of feeding and caring for themselves, and living in extremely precarious conditions.
The exhibition dedicated to these men and women is simply fascinating. Offered with a brochure and audio guide in French, it brings together a wealth of black-and-white photos, everyday objects and other relics of their daily lives to offer an immersive, authentic experience.
You’ll discover not only their island way of life, but also whole swathes of their culture, with their use of Gaelic, their way of fishing… etc.
A large part of the exhibition is then devoted to the reasons why the Irish government decided to “repatriate” the island’s population to the mainland in 1953. For many Irish people living on Great Blasket Island, this forced repatriation was a real heartbreak.
Numerous interactive panels explain how some of these “islanders” decided to leave Ireland for America. A way of protesting against the Irish government of the time, and trying his luck elsewhere…
If you’re feeling peckish, the museum offers on-site catering. With a tempting menu and affordable prices, it’s the perfect place to take a break!
The Blasket Centre faces Great Blasket Island – © Failte Ireland
If you want to extend the pleasure at the end of your visit, don’t hesitate to ask the Blasket Centre for a map of a short 4 km hike. The loop starts at the museum and ends at the same point.
The path is marked by a succession of green and white signs, and guides you along a pretty coastal path, alternating between green expanses and sublime ocean views.
The walk will take you past a ruined school, famous for having been used as the filming location for the movie “Ryan’s Daughter”. Indeed, it was within these walls that Robert Mitchum played a schoolteacher.
Allow around 1h30 for the walk. An easy, accessible, family-friendly 4km hike. Perfect for getting away from it all and admiring the beauty of Ireland’s ocean landscapes!
If the museum has whetted your curiosity, you can also visit Great Blasket Island, to experience the island’s beauty first-hand.
Shuttles are available from April to mid-October, departing from Dunquin (via Blasket Ferries) and Ventry (with Blasket Island Eco Marine Tours).
Very popular, these excursions sometimes require booking several weeks in advance (but are well worth it).
On-site excursion times vary according to the package you have chosen. It’s possible to stay between 3 and 7 hours on site, with guided hikes and explanatory tours.
A unique opportunity to discover the life of the era, through its abandoned houses and sumptuous landscapes!
Don’t forget to wrap up warm because of the wind, and don’t hesitate to bring your camera: the wild landscapes are worth the detour!
Adresse :
GPS :
Rates : 5€ per person
Opening hours :
end of March to end of October: daily, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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